Reishada’s beautiful buildings and smooth, flat streets were wasted on High Commander Ulresh Blackfist as they glittered in the morning light. The orckin was moving with purpose down the sparsely populated early morning streets, he was due for a meeting with the full council in just a short while. He had high hopes for the outcome of this meeting. High hopes, but low expectations. The council often moved with glacial slowness and such a long delay could prove disastrous given what was at stake.

What is at stake? He wondered as he walked. What will the instability of the Weave do to Charan in the long run? Will Riftwatch be enough to protect us from the Empire?

The last half block before the city center took Ulresh down into a covered tunnel. His eyes reflexively narrowed as he stepped out into the central area. The stone of the nearly circular “square” was smooth and almost mirror-like, blazing with the early morning sun it seared his eyes after the darkness. Only three buildings stood in the square, though there were numerous booths and tents being set up for market day.

The first, and largest, building was the enormous Tower of Spellweavers. It stood around six stories high, dwarfing every other building in the city by a large margin. The building’s facade was an intricate weave of vines, complete with thorns, leaves, and roses in various stages of bloom. The fine grain of the stone was polished to a shine and filled with scattered prisms that threw rainbow streaks around the central square.

Next was a smaller building, only a single story and not much larger around than a typical home. The building was nearly perfectly circular and shaped like a tightly closed bud. This was the council chambers, where his meeting would take place.

The final building was the Citadel of Roses where the Rose Guard and the Ograkillian Army both made their home. It was just as beautifully wrought, but the design was much more utilitarian, much like a three story tall hedge of brambles. At one time, High Commander Blackfist would have been assigned offices in the Citadel, but he would be officially retiring after this meeting with the council and would be a civilian for the first time in decades.

As he approached the inset door to the council building, a pair of guards saluted him sharply. He returned the gesture by route and straightened his uniform shirt as he stepped past them and into the dimly lit building.The building itself was but single room, the door he had entered led to a downward sloping ramp that led past tiered seating to a flat central area with arch shaped table. The council was already present, seated along the arch, all facing the chair that had been left for Ulresh. At least they had given him a chair this time.

High Commander Ulresh walked down the ramp with measured strides, not letting the council see him hurrying. Appearances were everything with these blasted bureaucrats. Soon he stood next to the chair, the center of attention for all thirteen councilors. Councilor Brakus gave Ulresh a nod of acknowledgement. The rest of the councilors regarded him coolly for a long moment before one of them stood and spoke.

“Greetings, High Commander. I am certain you understand how unusual it is for a full council meeting to be called on the behalf of a soldier, commander or not.”

“I understand, Councilors. This entire situation is most unusual. Has Councilor Brakus filled you in?”

“He has, we would appreciate hearing it from you.”

“We pursued the remains of the Empire across Farthess Reach. We believe that they were heading for the Outlands. To what end? We might never know. They stopped in the midst of the Wild Weaves and used a ritual spell, a blood spell. We do not know what the spell was meant to do, but we know what it did.” Ulresh spoke quickly, calmly, not bothering to elaborate any more than necessary. “The ritual ripped the Weave and opened a Rift leading to what seemed to be another world. The Empire fled through the Rift. There was some transference of other individuals, we believe. I have two such individuals along with me. The area around the Rift seems most unstable and we are working to fortify it now. A keep is being built around the Rift to control it and prevent the Empire from using it as a way back to this world. Reinforcements and Spellweavers have been sent and arrived before my departure.”

A few of the councilors sent sidelong glances at one another, but no one spoke before Ulresh continued. “It is my belief that in order to understand what is happening to the Weave and what may happen to our world as a whole, we must seek the records of the Hymaerans and the times right after the First Tear. Perhaps there is some way to combat the forces that are pulling at the Weave?”

“As far as is known,” The same unnamed councilor answered, “There is no way to directly affect the Weave. What the Ancients knew about the Weave is clearly much more in-depth than anything we have figured out.”

Another councilor, this one a woman her features nearly fully human. “That is not to say that our spellweavers could not figure out a way to access the Weave itself, given time and motivation.”

“Time is something that I believe we don’t have.” Ulresh said, cutting over another councilor that seemed about to speak. “I request that the Council fund and provision an expedition to seek the knowledge of the Ancients in the Outlands.”

There was a sudden blaze of sound as several of the councilors began to speak at once. The sound vanished quickly as one of them erected a muffling wall. He could still see them arguing amongst themselves, but no words breached the barrier. Ulresh watched them argue for long minutes, frustration building inside him. Finally, just when he was about to do something unwise, the barrier dropped and they turned their attention back to him. “No expedition has ever returned from the Outlands. Even going in there is ludicris. Worse, you intend this expedition to traverse nearly the entirety of the Outlands?” The nearly-human woman asked.

“What choice do we have?” Ulresh countered.

“We don’t even know what effect the supposed instability of this Rift is having on the Weave. There have been no perceived changes in the Weave since the Rift occurred.” She responded.

Ulresh released a breath. “I have seen two backblasts from the Rift with my own eyes.”

“Backblasts?” The Councilors exchanged looks.

At last, Brakus spoke. “We will support this endeavor. Make sure you send enough people, strong people. Otherwise, if you’re right, Ulresh, the consequences could be far reaching.”

Ulresh nodded and bowed to the Council. “I will send the best that I can convince to go.”

“May it be enough.” Brakas said as Ulresh turned to leave.